The Fashion Opera's Fashion Arena, Houston

Antonio Wingfield loved turning his designs into wearable realities—but he didn't love the fashion world's narrow standards of beauty. Looking to explore the deeper meanings of fashion, beauty, and the politics surrounding both, he developed a unique concept: using garments to tell a story. Wingfield co-founded The Fashion Opera with Darnelle Sanders, and the two set out to do much more than showcase clothing. The interactive theatrical experiences aim to challenge perceptions about aesthetics, a mission in keeping with Wingfield's belief that "a garment has the power to uplift the spirit."